Six Ocean Grove teams will get the opportunity to go for gold in their respective pennant competitions with three of those in the Midweek Pennant competition.
The reigning state premiers booked their spot in the final match with a convincing 39 shot win against the minor premiers Queenscliff.
Carol Howarth, Marg Carroll, Michael Allen and Faye Richardson took their game to another level recording the match winning margin of 38-14. Queenscliff then found form to advance to another showdown with the Grover’s defeating Highton by 37 shots.
Reaching the grand final was a little bit more of a challenging pathway for both Division Six and Eight teams.
The Sixers were beaten by a rampaging St Leonards side in the first final but were able to respond in the best fashion in the Preliminary last week. Shirley Trimble, Lorraine Oliver, Marene Turnley and Harold Curwood dominated their opposition to win 35-18 to ensure the overall scoreboard was in favour of the Ocean Grove side. The victory in this match set up the rematch in the big dance with St Leonards.
Jenni Morrow, Joy Cook, Albert Touwslager and Graeme Constable flexed their muscles in the Division Eight elimination final against Drysdale recording the 37-18 win that earned the side the chance to play in a preliminary final against Queenscliff. On the fast running greens at Eastern Park the challenge was set against a team that had only dropped one match this season. Graeme Constable’s team again laid the platform with their eight-shot win whilst Marlene Ross skipped her side to a big score line of 30-30 for the draw.
The Eights will line up for their grand final decider against Bell Post Hill.
Three teams are confirmed grand finalist of Saturday Pennant with another two chances on offer with two other sides in this week’s preliminary finals.
Divisions Four, Six and Seven have advanced to the big one with wins against Leopold, Bell Post Hill and Eastern Park respectively. Division Four led the way in its match at Portarlington. Adele Ryan, Andra Kuschert, Val Cook and Lorraine Kirk finished strong winning 25-17 while Jim Rogan skipped his side to a 25-20 result. John Izzard returned to Division Four with a win by three which was enough to cover the three-shot loss to the Ian Turner four.
Brian Ryan and Peter Kuschert steered their teams to margins of 11 and 12 respectively to lead the Sixers to a grand final on the greens at Leopold. The Grovers clearly found the carpet to their liking as they took control of the match winning by 18 shots.
Division Seven had to fight a little bit harder in its match against Eastern Park eventually coming out on top by 11 shots overall. Only five shots separated the two teams with about 12 ends to go but the Grovers stood tall in the closing stages to be the third side that will compete on grand final day.
Bob Bone, Nancy Quinton, Albert Touwslager and Harold Curwood got off to a great start leading 15-1 and continued to make it count when it mattered most winning 37-15 in a dominant display.
Two teams will fight next week to join the three who have already booked their spot in the final showdown. Division One succumbed to the minor premiers Highton 1 on the greens at Geelong Cement. Unable to match the performance of the flag favourites on the day the Grove side will contest next week’s preliminary final against Torquay.
Last year’s grand final teams Ocean Grove and Queenscliff will this year go head to head in a preliminary final to decide who gets an opportunity to take on Bareena in the decider. The Grovers showed strength in the semi-final against their Ballarat opposition Sebastopol. Only four shots split the two teams at the half way mark but the performance of Kira Bourke, Cal Hanna, Chris Price and Matt Flapper led the way for the OG team finishing the day 34-17 winners. Equally as good on the adjacent rink, Tom Warren, Owen Clark, Michael Allen and Skipper Mick West dominated their Sebastopol opposition to take out the match 28-18. Ocean Grove 22 shot winners and live to fight another day next week.
